Cricket 3 years ago

Preview: England Vs Australia - 5th ODI at Old Trafford

Just a week ago was a lot of animadversion surrounding this England team, and a week later, the gurgling maw of a certain praise-containing sea is fast pulling them all in. Well, that's the way this game goes, doesn't it?

England weren't even a shadow of the side that reignited the nation's love for the game earlier in the summer, as they crashed to two disappointing defeats against World Champions Australia. Since then, it has been an altogether different story.

It is never easy, not especially against a team as Australia to stage a comeback after going 2-0 down, but Eoin Morgan's England - the way they have struck back - have shown the abilities they possess as a group, and that they are no fools when it comes to putting up a real fight in tough situations.

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It's fair to say the series is England's to lose from here, the force and momentum both being with them at present. Nevertheless, there still remain some areas they would need to work on, so only something special can deny them a series win.

Alex Hales is the most worrying worry of them all. He has been regularly tipped to be the next test opener of England, but at present, the boy doesn't seem like he can last more than an over or two for some reason. The fifth and final one day may well be the perfect time to shine for his team.

Another one of England's problems is lack of composure in the final 10 overs, wherein they tend to lose the plot with both bat and ball. The reason for that is the absence of a natural finisher now that there's no Jos Buttler, and not one proper death bowler except David Willey.

There's no solving this problem in the blink of an eye. A lot of players in there are still learning their trade, so the improvements in these areas will come, but will take some time. Willey and Wood may go well in the death overs, or may be not, but as the situation may suggest, England must stick with the current combination and the same goes for the team as a whole.

The Pitch

Think Old Trafford, think spin. Manchester always has a lot to offer to the spinners, and expect it to be no different this time around as well. What does that mean? Trouble for Australia, good news for England with Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali up their sleeves.

Prediction

As stated, this game is England's to win, the force being with them. The conditions in the Englishmen's favour too, a treble over Australia does seem an inevitability.